Fluid apparatus

ABSTRACT

A fluid aparatus includes an apparatus main body that includes a motor and a fan driven by the motor, a frame on which the apparatus main body is mounted, a pipe that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body to discharge and introduce a fluid by rotation of the fan, an operation unit that is provided to the pipe to input an operation command for the apparatus main body by operation from outside, a cable that transmits a signal between the operation unit and the apparatus main body, and a connecting portion that is provided to the cable to separably couple the operation unit and the apparatus main body to each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2015-85921 filed Apr. 20, 2015 in the Japan Patent Office, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a fluid apparatus including a motor asa power source for a fan.

A backpack blower as an example of the fluid apparatus has been knownthat is configured to include a fan rotationally driven by a motor and abattery supplying electric power to the fan, both mounted on a backpackframe, and to be carried by a user on the user's back by means of thebackpack frame for use (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,400).

A backpack blower including an engine as a power source for a fan hasalso been known that includes a pipe for discharging air, attached to ablower main body mounted on a backpack frame, and a trigger forcontrolling the rotational speed of the engine, provided to a grip ofthe pipe (see, for example, JP2014-234610).

SUMMARY

The backpack blower disclosed in JP2014-234610 mentioned above is easyto use because a user can hold the grip to direct a leading end (an airdischarge outlet) of the pipe in a desired discharge direction and,moreover, can control the air discharge rate by manipulating the triggerwith a hand holding the grip.

According to the backpack blower disclosed in JP2014-234610, a cable forcoupling the trigger and the blower main body to each other is directlysecured to them, since the structure of a discharge rate controlmechanism for controlling the air discharge rate does not allow fordetachment of the cable.

This causes a problem of reduced portability because the undetachablecable gets in the way when, for example, the pipe is detached from theblower main body and divided to carry the blower along.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, it is desired, in amotor-driven fluid apparatus including a pipe for introducing anddischarging a fluid, the pipe being attached to an apparatus main bodyand provided with an operation unit, to help preventing a cable couplingthe apparatus main body and the operation unit to each other fromgetting in the way.

In a fluid apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure,an apparatus main body including a motor and a fan driven by the motoris mounted on a frame, and a pipe for discharging and introducing afluid by rotation of the fan is detachably attached to the apparatusmain body.

The pipe is provided with an operation unit for inputting an operationcommand for the apparatus main body by operation from outside, theoperation unit and the apparatus main body being coupled to each otherby a cable for transmitting a signal.

The cable is provided with a connecting portion for separably couplingthe operation unit and the apparatus main body to each other.

Thus, in the fluid apparatus according to the present disclosure, theoperation unit and the apparatus main body can be separated from eachother by decoupling a cable connection therebetween by means of theconnecting portion. This helps preventing the cable from getting in theway to thereby provide improved portability when, for example, the pipeis detached from the apparatus main body and divided to carry the fluidapparatus along.

The operation unit and the apparatus main body thus being separable fromeach other, it is possible to coupe a second operation unit that isdifferent from the operation unit provided to the pipe to a cable or acable connecting portion on the separated apparatus main body side, soas to run the fluid apparatus.

The connecting portion may be provided to at least one of a connectionbetween the cable and the operation unit or a connection between thecable and the apparatus main body, or may be provided to an intermediateportion of the cable.

Providing the connecting portion to the connection between the cable andthe operation unit or to the connection between the cable and theapparatus main body allows the connecting portion to be provided to anend of the cable, thereby allowing for provision of one cable.

In such a case, a user can couple the cable to the operation unit or tothe apparatus main body easily with one hand, since a connecting portionon the operation unit side or on the apparatus main body side, to becoupled to the cable, is secured to the operation unit or to theapparatus main body.

Providing the connecting portion to an intermediate portion of the cablerequires provision of two cables. It is, however, possible to set acable extending from the apparatus main body and a cable extending fromthe operation unit each at any length. Thus, it is possible to set eachcable to a length that does not cause the cable to get in the way whenthe pipe is detached from the apparatus main body.

The operation unit may comprise a plurality of input elements forinputting a plurality of commands.

The plurality of input elements includes, for example, a dial switch forsetting a maximum rotational speed of the motor, a trigger switch forinputting a speed command for the motor according to an amount thetrigger switch is operated, and a lock button for locking an operationalposition of the trigger switch.

The operation unit may further comprise a main power switch for theapparatus main body as one of the plurality of input elements.

Setting the main power switch thus provided to the operation unit to theOFF state, for example, can help preventing the motor from being drivento rotate the fan when an input element inputting a drive command forthe motor (such as a trigger switch) is unintentionally operated. Thisleads to improved safety.

The apparatus main body may be provided with a plurality of fans toincrease fluid discharging and introducing capacity. In this case, it isconceivable to include a plurality of motors in the apparatus main bodyto drive each fan separately.

In such a case as this where a plurality of motors are included in theapparatus main body, it is desired that the operation unit be configuredto input a command value common to each motor as an operation commandfor the plurality of motors.

Such a configuration eliminates the need for a user to input anoperation command separately for each motor, thereby providingfacilitated operation and improved usability. It also eliminates theneed to provide an input element to each motor, resulting in anoperation unit with a simpler configuration.

The operation unit may be provided with a display for displayingconditions of the fluid apparatus. It is desired that the display beconfigured to display at least one of a run/stop state of the apparatusmain body, remaining energy of a battery supplying electric power to themotor, or an abnormality in the apparatus main body, for example.

The operation unit may be provided to the pipe position-adjustably alonga central axis of the pipe. This allows the operation unit to be locatedin such a position easy for a user to operate it, thereby providingimproved usability.

The operation unit may be detachably attachable to the pipe. This allowsthe operation unit to be detached from the pipe for separate use, alsothereby providing improved usability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an explanatory diagram illustrating an appearance of abackpack blower according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a blower main body seen from thesame direction as in FIG, 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of thebackpack blower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a backpack blower (hereinafter also referredto simply as a blower) 2 according to an embodiment as an example of afluid apparatus comprises a blower main body 6 mounted on a backpackframe 4 and a pipe 8 guiding air discharged from the blower main body 6to a discharge outlet 9 located at a leading end of the pipe 8 todischarge the air from the discharge outlet 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the blower main body 6 accommodates fans 10Aand 10B rotating around a common central axis A to thereby introduceexternal air from around both ends of the central axis A and send theair out in the same direction.

The blower main body 6 is provided with a pipe mount 7 for dischargingair collected from, the fans 10A and 10B to the pipe 8.

The fans 10A and 10B respectively comprise outer rotor brushless motors(hereinafter referred to simply as motors) 12A and 12B, andcorresponding blades of the fans are secured to corresponding rotors ofthe motors 12A and 12B.

The blower main body 6 is secured, via a spring 5 for absorbingvibration, to the backpack frame 4, which is provided with a pad 4 a anda belt 4 b to be used by a user to shoulder the backpack frame 4.

The pipe mount 7 is provided to the blower main body 6 so as to belocated on the user's right when the blower main body 6 is carried onthe user's back by means of the backpack frame 4.

The pipe 8 is made of pipes 8 a to 8 e, which are segments of the pipe 8divided along its central axis into five.

Among these, the pipe 8 a is detachably attachable to the pipe mount 7and has an L shape such that the direction of air discharged from theblower main body 6 can be changed from laterally to forwardly relativeto the user.

The pipe 8 b to be coupled to the pipe 8 a is shaped like an accordionsuch that the discharge outlet 9 can be directed to any direction.

The pipe 8 c to be coupled to the pipe Sb is a straight pipe provided,on its outer periphery, with a handle 20 to be gripped by a user tochange the direction of the discharge outlet 9. The handle 20 isslidable along a central axis of the pipe 8 c and can be secured in anyposition for use.

The pipe 8 c is configured to be coupled either to the straight pipe 8 dor to the pipe 8 e including the discharge outlet 9 with a reduceddiameter at its leading end. When the pipe 8 d is coupled to the pipe 8c, the pipe 8 e can be coupled to a leading end of the pipe 8 d.

The handle 20 is provided with a trigger switch (hereinafter, a switchis indicated as a SW) 22, a dial SW 24, and a lock button 26, as anoperation unit operable by a finger of a user when the handle 20 isgripped by the user.

Among these, the trigger SW 22 controls the air discharge rate from theblower 2 (more specifically, the rotational speed of the motors 12A and12B), and the dial SW 24 sets the maximum discharge rate (morespecifically, the maximum rotational speed of the motors 12A and 12B),which is adjustable by operation of the trigger SW 22.

The lock button 26 is an operation button allowing a locking mechanismto function that holds the trigger SW 22 at its maximum operationalposition or at any operational position.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the handle 20 is further provided with a mainpower SW 28 and a display 30 for displaying operating conditions.

The trigger SW 22, the dial SW 24, the main power SW 28, and the display30 are coupled, via a cable 32 and a connector 34, to a centralcontroller 40 secured, together with the blower main body 6, to thebackpack frame 4.

In this context, the connector 34 corresponds to an example of aconnecting portion according to the present disclosure, which is amulticore connector for coupling a plurality of signal lines inside thecable (more specifically, the multicore cable) 32 extending from theblower main body 6 to the above-described elements in the handle 20.

As illustrated in an enlarged view X in FIG. 1, the connector 34comprises a first connector 34 a secured to an end of the cable 32 and asecond connector 34 b secured to the handle 20 and detachably couplableto the first connector 34 a.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the trigger SW 22 comprises a main switch 22 athat is turned into the ON state by operation by a user and a variableresistor 22 b that varies its resistance according to the amount ofoperation by the user.

The central controller 40 applies a power voltage Vd to the variableresistor 22 b and takes in a voltage divided using a sliding contact ofthe variable resistor 22 b as a trigger command.

The dial SW 24 comprises a variable resistor that varies its resistanceaccording to the rotational position of the dial. The central controller40 applies a power voltage Vd to the variable resistor and takes in avoltage divided using a sliding contact of the variable resistor as adial command.

When the main SW 22 a of the trigger SW 22 is turned into the ON state,the central controller 40 sets the rotational speed of the fans 10A and10B (i.e., of the motors 12A and 12B) at a ratio corresponding to thetrigger command (i.e., the divided voltage) taken in from the variableresistor 22 b of the trigger SW 22, with the maximum rotational speedbeing a rotational speed corresponding to the dial command taken in fromthe dial SW 24.

The main power SW 28 is a momentary (normally off) SW switching theON/OFF state of an internal power circuit (i.e., the run/stop state ofthe central controller 40) by operation by a user depressing andreleasing the SW. If the SWs 22, 24, and 28 are not operated for a givenperiod of time, the central controller 40 will automatically turn theinternal power circuit into the OFF state.

The display 30 comprises light-emitting diodes DA1 and DB1, each lit upby electric power from the central controller 40 when the centralcontroller 40 can drive the corresponding fans 10A and 10B.

The display 30 further comprises light-emitting diodes DA2 and DB2, eachlit up by electric power from the central controller 40 whencorresponding DC power sources (batteries) 50A and 50B used to drive thecorresponding motors 12A and 12B of the fans 10A and 10B have lowremaining energy.

These light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are made of those with differentemission colors, for example, green for the light-emitting diodes DA1and DB1 and red for the light-emitting diodes DA2 and DB2.

The DC power sources 50A and 50B used to drive the motors 12A and 12Bcomprise two battery packs 50A1, 50A2 and two battery packs 50B1, 50B2,respectively.

The two battery packs 50A1, 50A2 and the two battery packs 50B1, 50B2are respectively coupled to controllers 60A and 60B for driving themotors 12A and 12B and are individually coupled in series in thecorresponding drive controllers 60A and 60B.

When the blower main body 6 is seen from behind the backpack frame 4,the battery packs 50A1, 50A2, 50B1, and 50B2 are arranged, in sequencefrom left to right, along a lower portion of the blower main body 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drive controllers 60A and 60B (only the drivecontroller 60A is shown in FIG. 2) are provided in positions anterior,relative to the backpack frame 4, to mounts for the battery packs 50A1to 50B2 (only the battery pack 50A2 is shown in FIG. 2) andcorresponding to the battery packs 50A1, 50A2, 50B1, and 50B2.

The central controller 40 is provided to be located further right to thedrive controllers 60A and 60B when the blower main body 6 is seen frombehind the backpack frame 4, since the central controller 40 is requiredto be coupled, via the cable 32, to the SWs 22, 24, 28 and the display30 in the handle 20 provided to the pipe 8.

The central controller 40 is coupled to the drive controllers 60A and60B via cables 42A and 42B and connectors 44A and 44B.

The central controller 40 outputs, via the cables 42A and 42B to thedrive controllers 60A and 60B, a main SW signal, a speed command for themotors 12A and 12B, and an F/R signal indicating the rotationaldirection of the motors 12A and 12B, taken in from the trigger SW 22 andthe dial SW 24.

The drive controllers 60A and 60B respectively comprise driving circuits62A and 62B driving the corresponding motors 12A and 12B at a speedcorresponding to the speed command according to the above-describedsignals inputted from the central controller 40 and monitoring circuits64A and 64B for condition monitoring.

The monitoring circuits 64A and 64B monitor conditions (such ascurrents, voltages, temperatures) of the DC power sources 50A and 50B,the motors 12A and 12B, and the drive controllers 60A and 60Bthemselves.

When the monitoring results are normal, the monitoring circuits 64A and64B output a drive permission signal to the central controller 40 viathe cables 42A and 42B. When the monitoring results are abnormal, themonitoring circuits 64A and 64B stop outputting a drive permissionsignal.

The monitoring circuits 64A and 64B detect the remaining energy of thebattery packs 50A1, 50A2 and 50B1, 50B2, respectively, and display theremaining energy of the individual battery packs 50A1, 50A2, 50B1, and50B2 on remaining energy displays 52A and 52B provided to the blowermain body 6.

The monitoring circuits 64A and 64B output a low remaining energy signalto the central controller 40 via the cables 42A and 42B when theremaining energy of the corresponding battery packs 50A1, 50A2 and 50B1,50B2 is lowered to thereby lower the output of the motors 12A and 12B toa given level.

The central controller 40 drives the motors 12A and 12B by outputting,to the drive controllers 60A and 60B outputting the drive permissionsignal, a rotational speed set based on the signals from the trigger SW22 and the dial SW 24 as a speed command.

When the central controller 40 receives an input of the drive permissionsignal from the drive controllers 60A and 60B, the central controller 40illuminates the corresponding light-emitting diodes DA1 and DB1 tothereby notify that the central controller 40 is in the ON state and candrive the fans 10A and 10B.

When the central controller 40 receives an input of the low remainingenergy signal from the drive controllers 60A and 60B, the centralcontroller 40 flashes the corresponding light-emitting diodes DA2 andDB2 to thereby notify that the output of the motors 12A and 12B has beenlowered to the given level.

When the central controller 40 receives an input of the low remainingenergy signal while it does not receive an input of the drive permissionsignal from the drive controllers 60A and 60B, the central controller 40does not illuminate the corresponding light-emitting diodes DA1 and DB1while it illuminates DA2 and DB2, to thereby notify that thecorresponding battery packs 50A1, 50A2 and 50B1, 50B2 need to becharged.

The cables 42A and 42B include corresponding power lines for inputtingcorresponding power voltages (voltage between both ends of two batteriescoupled in series) VbatA and VbatB of the DC power sources 50A and 50Bfrom the corresponding drive controllers 60A and 60B to the centralcontroller 40.

The power lines each comprise a pair of a positive signal line and anegative signal line respectively coupled to the positive side and thenegative side of the corresponding DC power sources 50A and 50B, inwhich the signal line on the negative side is coupled to ground lines ofthe central controller 40 and the corresponding drive controllers 60Aand 60B.

This allows the central controller 40 to be supplied with operatingpower from the DC power sources 50A and 50B and moreover allows thenegative sides of the DC power sources 50A and 50B and the ground linesof the controllers 40, 60A, and 60B to have an identical potential.

In other words, this can provide the control, system with a uniformreference potential when the central controller 40 drives the motors 12Aand 12B by means of the drive controllers 60A and 60B, so as tofacilitate the design work to build the control system.

As described above, the blower 2 according to the present embodiment hasthe handle 20 to be gripped by a user, the handle 20 being provided tothe pipe 8 detachably attached to the blower main body 6.

The handle 20 is provided with the trigger SW 22, the dial SW 24, thelock button 26, and the main power SW 28 as an operation unit, as wellas the display 30 including the light-emitting diodes DA1, DB1, DA2, andDB2.

The trigger SW 22, the dial SW 24, the main power SW 28, and thelight-emitting diodes DA1, DB1, DA2, and DB2 are each coupled, via thesingle cable (more specifically, the multicore cable) 32, to the blowermain body 6 (more specifically, to the central controller 40).

If the cable 32 is secured to the handle 20 and the blower main body 6,it gets in the way, for example, when the entire pipe 8 is detached fromthe blower main body 6 or when the pipe 8 c, together with a pipeleading end portion attached thereto, is detached from the blower mainbody 6.

However, the cable 32 according to the present embodiment is coupled,via the connector 34, to the handle 20, and it is thus possible toseparate the handle 20 (and eventually the pipe 8) and the blower mainbody 6 from each other by decoupling the connection at the connector 34.

This helps preventing the cable 32 from getting in the way to therebyprovide improved usability when the pipe 8 or part thereof is detachedfrom the blower main body 6 and subdivided.

According to the blower 2 of the present embodiment, the first connector34 a is secured to an end of the cable 32, and thus it is also possibleto attach another operation unit, other than the handle 20, to the endof the cable 32 via the first connector 34 a.

This enables the usage where a user hangs the another operation unitfrom the waist by means of the cable 32 in carrying the blower main body6 on the user's back and manually operates the another operation unitwhen necessary. In such a case, another handle involving no switchoperation may be attached to the attaching position of the handle 20 toreplace the handle 20.

The handle 20 is provided to the pipe 8 c movably along its central axisand is separable from the pipe 8 c. Thus, it is also possible for a userto hang the handle 20 itself from the waist for use.

The handle 20 is provided with the main power SW 28 in addition to thetrigger SW 22 for inputting a drive command for the motors 12A and 12Band the lock button 26.

When the blower 2 is not intended for operation, setting the main powerSW 28 in the handle 20 to the OFF state helps preventing the motors 12Aand 12B from being driven by accidental operation of the trigger SW 22and the lock button 26, thereby providing improved safety.

Despite the fact that the blower 2 according to the present embodimenthas the plurality of motors, i.e., the motors 12A and 12B, provided inthe blower main body 6, it has only one trigger SW 22 and one dial SW 24for inputting a drive command for the motors and setting the rotationalspeed therefor.

The central controller 40 takes in inputs from the trigger SW 22 and thedial SW 24 as a common command value for driving the motors 12A and 12Band sets the rotational speed of the motors 12A and 12B.

Thus, according to the blower 2 of the present embodiment, the user doesnot have to input a separate operation command for each of the motors12A and 12B and can use the blower 2 easily. Because there is no need toprovide the trigger SW 22 and the dial SW 24 to each of the motors 12Aand 12B, it is also possible to provide an apparatus with a simplerconfiguration,

The. handle 20 is provided with the display 30 capable of displayingconditions of the blower 2 (more specifically, the run/stop state of thecentral controller 40, abnormal driving of the motors 12A and 12B, andlow remaining battery energy), as well as with the operation unit.

This allows the user to perceive the conditions of the blower 2 bygripping the handle 20 and checking the conditions of the display 30(lighting state of the light-emitting diodes DA1 to DB2).

An embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, butthe present invention should not be limited to the above-describedembodiment and can take various forms within the scope of the gist ofthe present disclosure.

For example, in the above embodiment, the connector 34 as a connectingportion has been described as one used to couple the cable 32 and thehandle 20 (more specifically, the operation unit and the display in thehandle 20) to each other. However, it may be used to couple the cable 32and the blower main body 6 (more specifically, the central controller40) to each other.

In this case, the connector 34 may be provided to each of the ends ofthe cable 32 to allow the cable 32 to be detached both from the handle20 and from the blower main body 6.

As illustrated in an enlarged view Y in FIG. 1, the cable 32 may bedivided into two and provided, at cable ends on a dividing point in thecable 32, with the first connector 34 a and the second connector 34 bfor mutual connection to thereby form a connecting portion.

In such a case, it is possible, by aligning the dividing point in thecable 32 with a dividing point in the pipe 8, to help preventing theends of the cable 32 from protruding from the pipe and thus getting inthe way when the pipe 8 and the cable 32 are divided at their respectivedividing points.

The above embodiment has described, as a backpack fluid apparatus, ablower that discharges air from a leading end of a pipe by rotation of afan. However, the present disclosure may be a fluid apparatus thatintroduces air by rotation of a fan, or may be a fluid apparatus thatintroduces and discharges air by switching the rotational direction of afan.

The above embodiment has described the switches as an operation unit andthe display, as being provided to the handle 20 secured to the pipe 8.However, they may be provided directly to the pipe 8.

The blower main body 6 according to the above embodiment has beendescribed as accommodating two sets of a motor and a fan. However, a setor three or more sets of a motor and a fan may be provided instead. Theconfiguration may be such that a single motor drives a plurality offans.

The above embodiment has described a backpack fluid apparatus, but thepresent disclosure may be a portable fluid apparatus.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid apparatus comprising: an apparatus mainbody that comprises a motor and a fan driven by the motor; a frame onwhich the apparatus main body is mounted; a pipe that is detachablyattached to the apparatus main body to discharge and introduce a fluidby rotation of the fan; an operation unit that is provided to the pipeto input an operation command for the apparatus main body by operationfrom outside; a cable that transmits a signal between the operation unitand the apparatus main body; and a connecting portion that is providedto the cable to separably couple the operation unit and the apparatusmain body to each other.
 2. The fluid apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the connecting portion is provided to at least one of aconnection between the cable and the operation unit or a connectionbetween the cable and the apparatus main body.
 3. The fluid apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is provided to anintermediate portion of the cable.
 4. The fluid apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the operation unit comprises a plurality of inputelements that inputs a plurality of commands.
 5. The fluid apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the operation unit comprises a dial switchthat sets a maximum rotational speed of the motor, a trigger switch thatinputs a speed command for the motor according to an amount the triggerswitch is operated, and a lock button that locks an operational positionof the trigger switch as the plurality of input elements.
 6. The fluidapparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operation unit comprises amain power switch for the apparatus main body as one of the plurality ofinput elements. 7, The fluid apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theapparatus main body comprises a plurality of motors, and wherein theoperation unit is configured to input a command value common to each ofthe plurality of motors as an operation command for the plurality ofmotors.
 8. The fluid apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theoperation unit comprises a display that displays conditions of theapparatus main body.
 9. The fluid apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the display is configured to display at least one of a run/stopstate of the apparatus main body, remaining energy of a batterysupplying electric power to the motor, or an abnormality in theapparatus main body.
 10. The fluid apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the operation unit is provided to the pipe position-adjustablyalong a central axis of the pipe.
 11. The fluid apparatus according toclaim I, wherein the operation unit is detachably attachable to thepipe.
 12. The fluid apparatus according to claim 1, comprising abackpack fluid apparatus.